California Wine and Spirits Business

The firm’s transactional experience includes the negotiation and drafting of multi-million dollar transactions with an emphasis in the wine industry, including wine production and distribution agreements, and the purchase of existing wine production facilities.

Mr. Commins served on the board of directors of the Codera Wine Group, Inc., which in late 2001 sold the majority of its assets for approximately $140 million. The firm was involved in negotiating this transaction and advising the company and its owners throughout these negotiations.

In July 2012 Purple Wine Company, LLC sold its Mark West wine brand to Constellation Brands U.S. Operations, Inc. for approximately $160 million. Commins & Knudsen represented Purple Wine Co. in that transaction and Mr. Capron led that effort.

Today, John Capron is General Counsel to Purple Wine & Spirits and to its owner, Derek Benham.

The firm also represents Linden Street Brewery, a start up micro brewery in the heart of Oakland’s historic brewing district.